What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
PEG-6
HumectantSodium Bicarbonate
Abrasive
Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters
Surfactant
Disteareth-100 Ipdi
Cellulose
Absorbent
Silica
Abrasive
Synthetic Wax
Abrasive
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Antioxidant
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Aniba Rosodora Wood Oil
Astringent
Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Rosa Damascena Flower Oil
Masking
Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Oil
Masking
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Martini Oil
Masking
Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil
Emollient
Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
Abrasive
Bixa Orellana Seed Oil
Emollient
Citrus Limon Peel Extract
EmollientEucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Masking
Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters
Emollient
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
BHT
Antioxidant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Saccharide Isomerate
Humectant
Water
Skin Conditioning1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate
Emulsifying
Beheneth-5
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Citrate
BufferingLinalool
Perfuming
Eugenol
Perfuming
Citronellol
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
PEG-6, Sodium Bicarbonate, Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters, Disteareth-100 Ipdi, Cellulose, Silica, Synthetic Wax, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Retinol, Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Glycine Soja Oil, Aniba Rosodora Wood Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Leaf Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Nut/Stem Oil, Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Bixa Orellana Seed Oil, Citrus Limon Peel Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, BHT, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Saccharide Isomerate, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Beheneth-5, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Linalool, Eugenol, Citronellol, Limonene, Geraniol
Zea Mays Starch
Absorbent
CI 77004
Cosmetic ColorantSodium Bicarbonate
Abrasive
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Cleansing
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate
SurfactantCitric Acid
Buffering
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Diglycerin
Humectant
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Water
Skin ConditioningMaltodextrin
Absorbent
Papain
Skin Conditioning
Oryza Sativa Powder
Oryza Sativa Lees Extract
Skin ConditioningOryza Sativa Bran Water
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Alpha-Arbutin
Antioxidant
Glucose
Humectant
Oryza Sativa Extract
Absorbent
Protease
Exfoliating
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Oryza Sativa Seed Protein
Antioxidant
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Zea Mays Starch, CI 77004, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Citric Acid, Sodium Polyacrylate, Diglycerin, Allantoin, Water, Maltodextrin, Papain, Oryza Sativa Powder, Oryza Sativa Lees Extract, Oryza Sativa Bran Water, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ceramide NP, Ascorbic Acid, Alpha-Arbutin, Glucose, Oryza Sativa Extract, Protease, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Tartaric Acid, Lactic Acid, Oryza Sativa Seed Protein, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Caprylyl Glycol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Â
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesÂ
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created.
Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin.
Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on).
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolCitric Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) naturally found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes.
Like other AHAs, citric acid can exfoliate skin by breaking down the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This helps reveal smoother and brighter skin underneath.
However, this exfoliating effect only happens at high concentrations (20%) which can be hard to find in cosmetic products.
Due to this, citric acid is usually included in small amounts as a pH adjuster. This helps keep products slightly more acidic and compatible with skin's natural pH.
In skincare formulas, citric acid can:
While it can provide some skin benefits, research shows lactic acid and glycolic acid are generally more effective and less irritating exfoliants.
Most citric acid used in skincare today is made by fermenting sugars (usually from molasses). This synthetic version is identical to the natural citrus form but easier to stabilize and use in formulations.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidLactic Acid is another well-loved alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). It is gentler than glycolic acid but still highly effective.
Its main role is to exfoliate the surface of the skin by loosening the âglueâ that holds dead skin cells together. Shedding those old cells leads to smoother, softer, and more even-toned skin.
Because lactic acid molecules are larger than glycolic acid, they donât penetrate as deeply. This means theyâre less likely to sting or irritate, making it a great choice for beginners or those with sensitive skin.
Like glycolic acid, it can:
Lactic acid also acts as a humectant (like hyaluronic acid). It can draw water into the skin to improve hydration and also plays a role in the skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the form of sodium lactate.
Studies show it can boost ceramide production to strengthen the skin barrier and even help balance the skinâs microbiome.
To get results, choose products with a pH between 3-4.
Lower strengths (5-12%) focus on surface exfoliation; higher strengths (12% and up) can reach deeper in the dermis (deeper, supportive layer) to improve skin texture and firmness over time.
Though it was originally derived from milk, most modern lactic acid used in skincare is vegan. It is made through non-dairy fermentation to create a bio-identical and stable form suitable for all formulations.
When lactic acid shows up near the end of an ingredient list, it usually means the brand added just a tiny amount to adjust the productâs pH.
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in sour milk to help reduce wrinkles.
Lactic acid is truly a gentle multitasker: it exfoliates, hydrates, strengthens, and brightens. It's a great ingredient for giving your skin a smooth, glowing, and healthy look without the harshness of stronger acids.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Lactic AcidSodium Bicarbonate has a more famous name: Baking soda.
In cosmetics, it is used to adjust the acidity. Due to its white crystalline solid form, it can also be an abrasive (exfoliator).
This ingredient is water-soluble.
Learn more about Sodium BicarbonateWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
